ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog to organise FinTech Conclave 2019
RBI Governor to inaugurate the Fin Tech 2019 Conclave
Will facilitate stakeholder deliberation upon the future of India’s burgeoning FinTech space
NITI Aayog is organising a day-long FinTech Conclave at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi tomorrow on 25th March, 2019. The objective is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy and policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for comprehensive financial inclusion, The Conclave will be featuring representatives from across the financial space – central ministries, regulators, bankers, startups, service providers and entrepreneurs.
The Conclave will be inaugurated by Governor, RBI and will be attended by senior government officials, including Secretary , Secretary , Chairman , Secretary , Secretary , Secretary , Deputy Governors of RBI, among others.
Conclave will host more than 300 representatives from the leading Financial Institutions including HDFC Bank, IndusInd, ICICI Bank, SBI Card, Tata Capital and FinTechs including BankBazaar, PhonePe, Capital Float, Zerodha, PayTM, MobiKwik, PayU, leading venture capital investors, state governments, MSMEs and industry subject matter experts.
The valedictory session of the conclave shall include presentations consolidating sector-specific findings of the various breakout panels on themes such as Digital Onboarding of Customers/Merchants for Financial Inclusion, Building Financial Products for Millennial India, Emerging Areas of FinTech, Fast Tracking Investments in FinTech Industry and Financial Inclusion of MSMEs.
Government of India’s efforts focused on Digital India and developing India Stack including Voluntary Aadhaar for financial inclusion have evoked significant interest from various stakeholders in the area of Financial Technology .
Background:
India is one of the fastest growing FinTech markets globally and industry research has projected that USD 1 Trillion or 60% of retail and SME credit, will be digitally disbursed by 2029. The Indian FinTech ecosystem is the third largest in the globe, attracting nearly USD 6 billion in investments since 2014.
The Indian FinTech industry is creating cutting edge intellectual property assets in advanced risk management and artificial intelligence that will propel India forward in the global digital economy while simultaneously enabling paperless access to finance for every Indian.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets people on Hindi Diwas
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on Hindi Diwas.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"आप सभी को हिन्दी दिवस की ढेरों बधाई। हिन्दी को एक सक्षम और समर्थ भाषा बनाने में अलग-अलग क्षेत्रों के लोगों ने उल्लेखनीय भूमिका निभाई है। यह आप सबके प्रयासों का ही परिणाम है कि वैश्विक मंच पर हिन्दी लगातार अपनी मजबूत पहचान बना रही है।"
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
56.64 Cr. vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
36,401 new cases in the last 24 hours
Active cases account for 1.13% of total cases; lowest since March 2020
India's Active caseload stands at 3,64,129; lowest in 149 days
Recovery Rate increases to 97.53%; Highest since March 2020
39,157 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,15,25,080
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 3% for last 55 days
Daily positivity rate  less than 3% for last 24 days
50.03 cr Total Tests conducted so far
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
MPLADS FUND FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Under the New MPLADS Guidelines, 2023, MPLADS funds can be used for purchase of IT systems, including hardware and software for educational purposes [Point-3.3 of indicative list of works permissible under MPLADS]. However, the list is not exhaustive and new works can be added to the list on the recommendations of a Member of Parliament subject to overall principles of the Scheme given in chapter-5 of the Guidelines.
This information was given by the Minister of State  for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Power
IREDA and NHPC vaccinate over 300 employees
A two day free COVID vaccination camp was jointly organised by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd.  and NHPC Ltd central Public Sector Undertakings under Ministry of Power for the 18-44 age group employees on 7th and 8th May at IREDA’s Corporate Office, New Delhi.
This was done in line with the direction of Shri R.K. Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State  for Power and New & Renewable Energy & Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. A total of 317 employees from IREDA, NHPC, Ministry of Power, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, MHA, PFC, REC, BHEL, BBMB, MMTC, NEEPCO, PTC, NSPCL and CEA got vaccinated in this camp with the objective and fulfilling to rapidly immunise all eligible employees amid the second wave of infections. All the safety protocols were followed during the Vaccination camp. On this occasion, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA underlined that “this is an effort to ensure protection and confidence so as to enable a healthier workforce. This will help safe return to normal life resulting in faster economic recovery. Shri Das thanked NHPC and Apollo Hospital for their collaboration and support.
IREDA has taken several initiatives to contain the first and second waves of COVID-19. It has constituted an exemplary ‘COVID Care Response Team’. that is continuously taking care of COVID-19 positive employees and their family members starting from June 2020. The Team has so far helped 77 employees, 27 families of employees, and 17 other individuals by regularly counselling them and also providing them all necessary support including regular delivery of food and medicines, hospitalization, plasma donation, Oxygen Concentrator etc.
The vaccination drive was carried out for the safety of power sector personnel so that the critical need of uninterrupted power supply on 24x7 basis is ensured.
Department of Space
Prime Minister’s vision for space technology will create large scale employment opportunities in this sector: Dr Jitendra Singh
Union Minister of State  Development of North Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today that the Prime Minister’s vision for space technology is to unlock India’s potential in space sector; to transform skill, capacity and creativity to make the country self-reliant and technologically advanced. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister said, the vision seeks to create opportunities for large scale employment generation in the space sector. India as global space technology powerhouse will play a major catalytic role in the advancement of socio-economic use of space assets, while guiding & promoting private sector through enabling policy environment.
The vision will transform the approach in space sector from supply driven to demand driven model for optimum utilization of national resources while harnessing capacity & creative skills and focus shall be more on R&D, cutting-edge technology, newer frontiers in space, space exploration, human space flight with a view to attract & exploit the potential of the future generation.
The vision will also provide enhanced benefits to the common man, through further development of technology-delivered public services in a faster, cheaper and efficient manner.
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SNC
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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Removal of Liquor Shops along National Highways
The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India vide its order dated 15.12.2016 and 30.11.2017 in Civil Appeal Nos 12164-12166 of 2016  has issued directions regarding stopping the grant of licenses for sale of liquor along national and state highways and over a distance of 500 metres from the outer edge of the national or state highways or of a service lane along the highway. In the case of areas under jurisdiction of in local bodies with a population of 20,000 people or less, the distance of 500 metres is reduced to 220 metres.
As per the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Ministry has requested all the State Governments and UTs, from time to time, to take necessary action for implementation of the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court. Further, Section 185 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of drunken driving cases. Besides, the Ministry undertakes campaigns through print and electronic media to spread awareness about dangers of drunken driving.
The Ministry deals with the matters related to development of National Highways and providing access to properties situated along the National Highways. It has no control on the usage of and business run in these properties located beyond the Right of Way  of National Highways. Government does not collect data on removal of liquor shops as this is a state subject.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri NitinGadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Special cleanliness drive has been started at the National Statistical Office, Field Operations Division, Ahmedabad
Special campaign 2.0 for disposal of pending matters has been started by the Government of India, on 02 October 2022. This year, the main focus of this campaign is ‘the cleanliness of government offices’. In view of the above, a special drive for cleanliness is being run by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation from October 02, 2022 to October 31, 2022.
The campaign is being undertaken intensively, with special attention on 4 offices of the ministry at the national level, in which the regional office of the National Statistical Office, Field Operations Division, Ahmedabad is one of them. For this campaign, a special cleanliness drive has been started by the office on 02nd October, wherein the first part related to weeding of all records and files according to the guidelines, rules and procedure was undertaken.
In the second part, in order to increase the public awareness, a cleanliness drive was undertaken in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat in Lapkaman village near Ahmedabad and a public awareness rally was organized through which the villagers were educated about cleanliness. The Deputy Director General & Regional Head Shri S. K. Bhanawat and Deputy Director Shri Jayaprakash Honrao alongwith about 60 officers/employees of the office participated in the same with enthusiasm.
YP/GP/JD
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Prime Minister's Office
PM reviews progress of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
PM reviews progress of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana  – the Union Government’s flagship irrigation programme.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from various concerned Ministries, besides PMO and NITI Aayog.
Officials stated that out of 99 priority irrigation projects, 21 projects, with a total irrigation potential of 5.22 lakh hectares are likely to be completed by June 2017.
An additional 45 priority projects in the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, are progressing well, and are likely to be completed ahead of schedule.
The Prime Minister urged to officials to give maximum attention to drip and micro-irrigation, in these upcoming irrigation projects. He called for synergy between various Government Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Agricultural Universities to work out efficient cropping patterns and water-use mechanisms in the command areas of these projects.
The Prime Minister exhorted the officials to work with a comprehensive and holistic vision for PMKSY. He also called for using latest available technology, including space applications, to monitor the progress of irrigation projects.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Cyber Security Training Institutes
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments/UT Administration to equip their police forces with adequate infrastructure facilities, state-of-art technology gadgets, manpower and training for tackling cybercrimes. However, the Central Government supplements the initiatives of the State Governments through various advisories and schemes for the capacity building of their Law Enforcement Agencies .
Under the Cybercrime Prevention against Women and Children  Scheme, financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 99.88 Crore has been provided to all State/UTs for setting up of cyber forensic cum training laboratories, hiring of junior cyber consultants and capacity building of Law Enforcement Agencies , public prosecutors and judicial officers.
Under the Assistance to States for Modernization of Police  Scheme, Rs. 1042.94 Crore has been released to various State/UTs, during the last 3 years for acquisition of latest training gadgets, advanced communication/forensic equipment, Cyber Policing equipment etc.
Massive Open Online Courses  platform, namely ‘CyTrain’ portal has been developed under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center , for capacity building of police officers/judicial officers through online courses on critical aspects of cybercrime investigation, forensics, prosecution etc. alongwith certification. In addition, training curriculum has been prepared for police personnel, public prosecutors and judicial officers for better handling of investigation and prosecution and States/UTs have been requested to organize training programmes accordingly.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
No impact of WTO Panel’s findings on Sugar on any of India’s existing and ongoing policy measures in sugar sector.
India initiates all measures necessary to protect our interest and file an appeal at the WTO against the report, to protect the interests of its farmers.
India believes that its measures are consistent with its obligations under the WTO agreements
The findings of the WTO panel completely unacceptable to India.
There would be NO impact of WTO Panel’s findings on Sugar on any of India’s existing and ongoing policy measures in sugar sector.
India has initiated all measures necessary to protect it's interest and file an appeal at the WTO against the report, to protect the interests of its farmers.
It may be noted that in 2019, Australia, Brazil and Guatemala had challenged some of India’s policy measures in the sugar sector, at the WTO. They had wrongly claimed that domestic support provided by India to sugarcane producers is in excess of the limit allowed by the WTO and that India provides prohibited export subsidies to sugar mills.
The Panel issued its report on 14 December 2021 in which it has made certain erroneous findings about our schemes to support sugarcane producers and exports.
The findings of the Panel are completely unacceptable to India. The Panel’s findings are unreasoned and not supported by the WTO rules. The Panel has also evaded key issues which it was obliged to determine. Similarly, the Panel’s findings on alleged export subsidies undermines logic and rationale.
India believes that its measures are consistent with its obligations under the WTO agreements
Ministry of Rural Development
Celebration of International Day of Yoga 2023 by Department of Land Resources
Department of Land Resources , Ministry of Rural Development celebrated the International Day of Yoga  - 2023 at its Health Rejuve Centre at Shivaji Stadium Annexe, New Delhi on 21st June 2023. The program was inaugurated by Sh. Ajay Tirkey, Secretary DOLR in presence of other officers of DOLR by lighting of lamp. This was followed by a comprehensive Yoga Session conducted by instructor from Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga with active participation of Officers from DOLR. Shri Ajay Tirkey, Secretary, Department of Land Resources led the Yoga session attended by the Officers of DOLR. Live address of International Yoga Celebration  programme of Vice President from Jabalpur was webcasted from 6.40 A.M. onwards. Yoga Asanas were performed by the participants from 7.00 A.M. to 7.45 A.M with full zeal and enthusiasm. All the common yoga protocols, prescribed by M/o Ayush were adhered to.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Jharkhand
The Income Tax Department carried out searches on a closely-held Group of Jharkhand on 17.03.2021 and concluded the same on 20.03.2021. The Group is engaged in manufacturing and trading of Sponge Iron, MS Ingots, MS Rods, and TMT bars and has dealerships of petrol pumps. Search and survey was carried out at more than 20 premises.
The Group was indulging in manufacture and sale outside the books and was using an extensive network of shell companies to plough back unaccounted income. Preliminary findings include the sale of unaccounted production of Rs. 185 crore. Digital media containing details of such unaccounted transactions has been recovered and analysed. Accounts of actual production details which are not recorded in regular books have been recovered.
The products of this Group are used in building construction and other infrastructure projects, and unaccounted production is sold in cash in eastern India. The cash generated is being ploughed back into the Group in the form of share capital and unsecured loans from Kolkata based shell companies. The money is also invested in the purchase of properties and expensive personal items.
Seized documents indicate that the unaccounted income of the Group amounting to about Rs. 100 crore was ploughed back in the form of share capital at very high premiums through Kolkata based shell companies. The original share certificates issued to these shell companies were also found in the company's office premises. Investigations reveal that the so called shareholders do not exist.
The Group has also obtained unsecured loans of about Rs.25 crore from Kolkata-based shell companies, clearly indicating the ploughing back of its own unaccounted income. The Group has obtained bogus commodity profit entries amounting to Rs. 30 crore.
An entry provider and a freight forwarder were also searched. These persons were arranging entries through shell companies. Documents indicating such unaccounted entries have been found during search, further establishing the nature of unaccounted transactions and entries taken by the Group.
The search has revealed that the Group was actively engaged in the generation of unaccounted income in cash and introducing the same in the Group as equity and loans and making investments in real estate. Unaccounted cash of Rs. 3.07 crore was seized while unaccounted bullion and jewellery of Rs 1.28 crore was seized during the search.
Further investigations are in progress.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles the demise of noted tennis player, Shri Naresh Kumar
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the demise of noted tennis player, Shri Naresh Kumar.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Shri Naresh Kumar will be remembered for his pioneering contribution to Indian sports. He played a major role in popularising tennis. In addition to being a great player he was also an exceptional mentor. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti."
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Last 6 years of Modi Government witnessed historic rise in MSP: Dr Jitendra Singh
Dr Jitendra Singh hailed elimination of middlemen in New Agricultural Laws
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said today that the during the last 6 years of Modi Government, a number of historic steps were taken for welfare of farmers and there was a steady hike in MSP for helping in doubling their income. Interacting with Sarpanches, BDC Chairmen, Farmers Organisations and local activists of the peripheral hill districts of Doda, Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar on the new Farm Laws enacted by the Centre, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the minimum support price  and APMC  will continue and will never be removed at any cost. He said that some vested interests are spreading myths about their abolition, which need to be countered at all levels.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Committees will purchaseKharif and Rabi crops as usual, but the only difference is that a farmer can sell his produces also outside their areas now and even to private traders. He can do so anywhere, within the state and outside and the state governments cannot levy any fee on farmers for that. He also added that a farmer can now sign agreements with agri-business companies and keep stocks beyond present limits, which is truly a historic measure.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the arrival of Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21 has just begun and the Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes as done in previous seasons. He said, only two days back, National Cooperative Development Corporation , the apex financing organization of Union Agriculture Ministry has sanctioned as first instalment, funds amounting to Rs 19,444 crores to the states of Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Telangana for Kharif paddy procurement under Minimum Support Price  operations.
Hailing the move to eliminate middlemen in the new Farm Laws, the Union Minister said that it was this class which were eating the income of the farmers and coming in the way of their progress. He said, after 70 years of Independence, the farmers were liberated from the shackles of middlemen and now the farmers can choose where to sell and whom to sell and thus will become producers and traders for the first time. He said, the Contract Agreement, as per the Act brought in through the new Agricultural Laws, will be for the crops and not for the land, and alleged that the farmers are being misled to believe otherwise.
Dr Jitendra Singh appealed to all activists to reach out to each and every farmer in every village and explain to him the big conspiracy being hatched against him. This, he said, will enable the agricultural community to avail of the enormous welfare initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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SNC
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Prime Minister's Office
Prime Ministers of India and Singapore to witness the launch of Real-time Payment Systems Linkage between the two countries on 21st February
Cross-border connectivity to be launched between UPI of India and PayNow of Singapore
Linkage of these two payment systems to enable faster and cost-efficient transfer of money
Will help the Indian diaspora in Singapore in transfer of money from Singapore to India and vice-versa
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong would witness the launch of cross-border connectivity between the Unified Payments Interface  of India and PayNow of Singapore on February 21, 2023 at 11 AM  via video conferencing. The launch will be done by Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India , and Mr. Ravi Menon, Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore .
India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing ecosystems for fintech innovation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in driving globalisation of India’s best-in-class digital payment infrastructure. A key emphasis of the Prime Minister has been on ensuring that the benefits of UPI are not limited to India only, but other countries too benefit from it. The linkage of these two payment systems would enable residents of both countries in faster and cost-efficient transfer of cross-border remittances. It will also help the Indian diaspora in Singapore, especially migrant workers and students through instantaneous and low cost transfer of money from Singapore to India and vice-versa.